main content Bromley’s new LINk to get independent expert help

Having a say on social and health care issues in Bromley has just got easier, thanks to the appointment of Shaw Trust to host Bromley’s newly forming LINk (Local Involvement Network). The LINk is mandated to encourage all Bromley residents to comment on local Health and Social Care services.

From Monday 1st September, Shaw Trust will support the Bromley LINk to ensure that Bromley residents, independently from the council and NHS, can flag up to the Council and the NHS the social and health care issues that matter to them. Bromley’s LINk will enable people to check how health and social care issues are planned and run. It will also make local people’s views known to those responsible for running health and social care services so that they change for the better.

Said Councillor Graham Arthur, Executive Councillor for Adult and Community Services.

“I am delighted that Shaw Trust has been appointed to support Bromley’s LINk. Bromley’s LINk will give people real powers to make recommendations to those responsible for providing local services. I am pleased that this independent body has the expert help it will need to make this happen. “

Elizabeth Butler, chairman of Bromley Primary Care Trust said,

“The PCT welcomes the arrival of the new LINk and the appointment of an experienced host organisation. For us, as the commissioner of health services for Bromley residents, listening to, understanding and acting upon their views and experiences of using the NHS is central to delivering a high quality and effective service. A well supported and enabled LINk will add greatly to our ability to work with local people to keep on achieving improvements.”

Shaw Trust was appointed following a rigorous process involving community representatives.

Catherine A' Bear, Communications Director of Shaw Trust said

“ We are delighted to have been awarded the contract to provide support services for the Bromley LINk. At Shaw Trust we believe strongly in the ability of a well-informed LINk to influence the provision of health and social care services in Bromley to the benefit of all residents. We have extensive experience in community engagement and look forward to helping build a strong voice representing all the people of Bromley .“

The new Bromley LINk is open to individual and group membership from all around the borough. If you or your group or organisation want to take part please email linksfeedback@bromley.gov.uk or call Emma Whitby from Shaw Trust on 0208 315 1982.

ENDS


Notes to editors: 

• Local Involvement Networks aim to give citizens a stronger voice in how their health and social care services are delivered. Run by local individuals and groups and independently supported - the role of LINks is to find out what people want, monitor local services and to use their powers to hold councils and the NHS to account. LINks will be established in most areas between April 2008 and September 2008. Every local authority that provides social services has been given funding and is under a legal duty to make contractual arrangements that enable LINk activities to take place. (ref Department of Health) 
• Shaw Trust is one of the UK’s largest charities in supporting people with disabilities or people at a disadvantage and also has experience in supporting a number of Patient and Public Involvement Forums (the predecessors to LINks), across the country. Since April 1st 2008 they have been responsible for supporting the interim Bromley Health and Social Care Forum, which will become part of the new LINk on September 1st, 2008. 
• Since the local elections in 2002, the council has been led by a Conservative administration. Full council is made up of 60 elected councillors – 49 Conservative, 7 Liberal Democrat and 4 Labour – representing 22 wards across the borough. 
• For media enquiries, please contact Jenny Manchester Communications Officer, on 020 8313 4174/ 07913779049 or email jenny.manchester@bromley.gov.uk  
• For party political comment please contact:
  Conservative - michael.tickner@zip-mail.co.uk  
  Labour – john.getgood@bromley.gov.uk  
  Liberal Democrat – david.mcbride@bromley.gov.uk 
• Further information on LINks is available from Lorna Blackwood on 020 8313 4674 or email lorna.blackwood@www.bromley.gov.uk